Modular Photovoltaic Sunshade

Abstract

In a general aspect, a sunshade array includes a plurality of sunshade systems. Each sunshade system includes a frame system that is coupled to a building exterior. A photovoltaic panel is supported by the frame system. An electrical raceway is coupled to the plurality of sunshade systems. The electrical raceway contains an electrical coupling to an electrical system of the building for the photovoltaic panel contained in each sunshade system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sunshade array comprising:
 a plurality of sunshade assemblies, each sunshade assembly comprising:
 a frame system coupled to a building exterior; 
 a photovoltaic panel supported by the frame system; and 
   an electrical raceway coupled to the plurality of sunshade assemblies, the electrical raceway containing an electrical path having an electrical connection point to the photovoltaic panel and an electrical output to an electrical system of the building.   
     
     
         2 . The sunshade array of  claim 1 , wherein each sunshade assembly is individually decoupled from the electrical raceway. 
     
     
         3 . The sunshade array of  claim 2 , wherein a sunshade assembly is decoupled from the electrical raceway by removal of a fastener. 
     
     
         4 . The sunshade array of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical raceway comprises a cover that is rotatable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the cover opens downwardly relative to the electrical raceway. 
     
     
         5 . The sunshade array of  claim 1 , wherein the frame system is supported by a pair of outriggers that are coupled to the building exterior. 
     
     
         6 . The sunshade array of  claim 5 , wherein each outrigger of the pair of outriggers are coupled to the building exterior by an anchor. 
     
     
         7 . The sunshade array of  claim 6 , wherein the anchor receives a pin that extends inwardly from each outrigger of the pair of the outriggers. 
     
     
         8 . The sunshade array of  claim 5 , wherein the frame system comprises a plurality of frame members disposed around the photovoltaic panel. 
     
     
         9 . The sunshade array of  claim 8 , further comprising a pair of support brackets, the pair of support brackets being coupled to a support cross member and being coupled to respective outriggers of the pair of outriggers. 
     
     
         10 . The sunshade array of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sunshade assemblies comprise a single row of sunshade assemblies. 
     
     
         11 . The sunshade array of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sunshade assemblies is grouped in a linear fashion. 
     
     
         12 . The sunshade array of  claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic panel is mounted on a glass layer. 
     
     
         13 . The sunshade array of  claim 12 , wherein the glass layer is clear glass, frosted glass, tinted glass, or glass having a variable opacity. 
     
     
         14 . An electrical raceway for use with a photovoltaic sunshade array, the electrical raceway comprising:
 a plurality of structural attachment points, each structural attachment point for coupling a sunshade assembly to the electrical raceway;   an electrical path comprising a plurality of electrical connection points for coupling to a photovoltaic panel of a sunshade assembly; and   an electrical output for coupling to an electrical system of a building, the electrical output being coupled to the electrical path.   
     
     
         15 . The electrical raceway of  claim 14 , wherein the sunshade assembly is individually decoupled from the electrical raceway. 
     
     
         16 . The electrical raceway of  claim 14 , comprising a cover that is rotatable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the cover opens downwardly relative to the electrical raceway. 
     
     
         17 . The electrical raceway of  claim 14 , wherein the structural attachment point comprises a fastener. 
     
     
         18 . The electrical raceway of  claim 14 , wherein the sunshade assembly comprises:
 a pair of outriggers coupled to a building exterior; and   a frame system supported by the outriggers, the frame system having the photovoltaic panel disposed therein.   
     
     
         19 . A method of installing a photovoltaic sunshade array, the method comprising:
 coupling a frame system to a pair of outriggers that are coupled to a building exterior, the frame system containing a photovoltaic panel;   coupling the frame system to an electrical raceway; and   coupling a first electrical lead from the photovoltaic panel to a second electrical lead that is coupled to an electrical path that is integrated with an electrical system of the building, the first electrical lead and the second electrical lead being contained within the electrical raceway.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the photovoltaic sunshade array comprises a plurality of sunshade assemblies. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of sunshade assemblies comprise a single row of sunshades. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of sunshade assemblies is linear. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the steps are repeated for each sunshade assembly of the photovoltaic sunshade array. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein each sunshade assembly is individually decoupled from the electrical raceway. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein a sunshade assembly is decoupled from the electrical raceway by removal of a fastener. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the electrical raceway comprises a cover that is rotatable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the cover opens downwardly relative to the electrical raceway. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the frame system is supported by a pair of outriggers that are coupled to the building exterior. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein each outrigger of the pair of outriggers are secured to the building exterior by an anchor. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the anchor receives a pin that extends inwardly from each outrigger of the pair of the outriggers. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the frame system comprises a plurality of frame members disposed around the photovoltaic panel. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising a pair of support brackets, the pair of support brackets being coupled to a support cross member and being coupled to respective outriggers of the pair of outriggers. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the photovoltaic panel comprises a glass layer. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the glass layer is clear glass, frosted glass, tinted glass, or glass having a variable opacity.